Development of an anti-analyte ion remover used for ion chromatography: Part 1. Examination of a device for anion analysis.

Herein, we report on the fabrication of a device for removing cations of an anti-analyte ion contained in a sample and an eluent under an electric field. The space in which the electrode is set on both sides of the device is separated into three cells using anion and cation exchange membranes. Each of the cells is packed with either an anion or cation exchange resin. Cation removal is performed by electrical regeneration, based on the electrokinetic phenomenon on both the surface of the ion exchange resins and the membranes. It was verified that the developed device has a very low dead volume, and sufficient capacity for the continuous removal of cations from the sample and the eluent. In addition, the detection sensitivity of ion chromatography (IC) was improved using this device as a suppressor, and a detection limit of anions on the sub-ppb order was achieved.